San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House provides a “home away from home” for families with children being treated for serious, often life-threatening conditions at local hospitals.
Helping Families Care for Their Child
We provide a welcoming and convenient home for families because:
Studies have shown that children heal faster when families are near, and parents and healthy siblings can manage challenges better when residing together.
Hospitals require an adult to be present for treatments, so our House helps to make long-term and advanced treatments for children possible.
We can all feel assured that we have a safety net to fall back on if our children become seriously ill.
Volunteers and donors may deepen their engagement in civic life and contribute to a stronger San Diego by supporting our House.
Our Impact
We rely on community support to provide these comforting services for families caring for children at any San Diego hospital.
Thanks to an active volunteer program and generous community support, each year approximately:
600 families reside with us during their child’s hospitalization
14,000 additional people use our Family Care Center, coming for meals, computer access, and other essential resources
250,000 freshly prepared meals are served free of charge to family members, with the assistance of more than 380 volunteer groups
100 siblings of hospitalized children take part in education and enrichment programs, including the onsite School Away from School
With the recent addition of 28 guest suites, we anticipate our reach to increase exponentially.
Who We Are
San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House emerged from the collective voices and vision of parents who knew firsthand the struggles that come to both children with cancer and the families who support them.
With Donald Schwartz, MD., founding medical director of the cancer care center at Children’s Hospital (now Rady Children’s Hospital), and hospital social worker Irma Gusfield, this visionary collective brought forward a movement that has literally changed the lives of thousands of families with hospitalized children.
Since 1980, San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House has been an independent, locally run charitable organization dedicated to keeping families together when it matters most.
The 2025 launch of our Imagine the Moment Campaign for San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House positions us to serve an even greater number of families, expand our healing services through our Family Support Services program, and build an endowment that ensures continued annual operational funding for years to come.
San Diego’s Original Ronald McDonald House opens with room for eight families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. A resident manager lives on site. A 1989 addition makes room for four more families. The Joan Kroc Endowment is established. Community need continues to grow, and we look for ways to expand near our main hospital partners.
2006
New “real estate” With plans by Joseph Wong Design Associates, we gain approval to build a 65,000 sq. ft. House in an unusual spot: the top floor of a parking structure under construction by Rady Children’s Hospital. Local McDonald’s Owners, our founding mission partners, pledge $2 million for construction.
2009
New House Opens Our silver LEED certified House has 47 guest suites, rooftop courtyards, and a Family Care Center to aid thousands of families per year beyond our resident families.
2010
New Ways to Support Families
School Away from School opens so children staying at the House can attend school onsite with the San Diego Unified School District.
New Annual Events fund expanded family care. Prominent events included Red Shoe Day supported by Wells Fargo, Poker Run by PJ and Debbie Byrne,
Cake Show by the San Diego Cake Club, Tables for Tots by GM Business Interiors, Dinner with Friends by Carlos Sanguinetti and Matt Teeter, and the ROMP gala created by Mary Drake.
Meal Service greatly expands to reach more families, serving 50,000+ free meals in its first year with inkind donations and volunteer support. It goes on to become a model for Ronald McDonald Houses worldwide.
2011
Our Meal Program Shines Meal Program continues to grow, serving over 100,000 meals to families during their child’s hospitalization. Donors include the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation, Bank of America Foundation, the Farrell Family Foundation, and SDG&E as well as community groups and local retailers.
2012
A $3.5 Million Gift from the Joseph Clayes III Charitable Trust creates the Joseph Clayes III Endowment Fund at the House.
2013
Day of Joy Created Day of Joy/Día de Alegría reception starts, bringing together leading Latinas y Amigas in support of family care.
2014
ROMP gala hits a high note with Stephen Tyler as headliner, thanks to Chair Jennifer Gramins.
San Diego Zoo Kids TV Ours is the first Ronald McDonald House worldwide to bring zoo programming to children and families 24 hours a day.
2016
Guest Suites Renovated After seven years at full occupancy, all 47 guest suites undergo “rejuvenation” to stay in top condition for family care. Funded by donors including the French Fund, the S. Mark Taper Foundation, and more.
2017
North House Grand Reopening Original House is renovated and reopened for use by families once again, increasing our total capacity to 55 rooms. Supporting donors include the David C. Copley Foundation, Price Philanthropies, and the Zable Foundation.
2017-2018
Improvements for Families include the San Diego Padres & Fowler Family Playroom, the Filkey & Associates Restorative Spa Showers, and the Salka Family Wellness Center.
1,000,000 Meals Served to families since our 2009 expansion. Leading donors support renovations for the next million meals, including the JMS Fund, Letitia Swortwood Wheat, and the Caster Family.
2019
Main House Transformation The heart of our House is renovated from reception to commercial and family kitchens, with the Joseph Clayes III Great Room at the center. A new $500,000 Joseph Clayes III Meal Program Endowment helps support ongoing nutrition for families near the hospital.
Many Hearts Legacy Society Begins, celebrating those who are committed to ensuring care for future generations through their estates.
2020
During COVID-19, we continued to serve families with the most critically ill children. Gifts to our Emergency Family Care Fund were matched with over $300,000 in gifts from longtime friends including Nancy Stanley and Family, the Miyahira Families and HME, and anonymous supporters.
2021
Thanks to the incredible support of Vertex employees and the Vertex Foundation, we completed a demolition and remodel of our Guest Services Office, turning it into a welcoming space where families could check-in to the House in privacy. We celebrated this milestone accomplishment with a virtual ribbon cutting and unveiling ceremony with Mayor Todd Gloria, viewed by Vertex employees around the world.
2022
After COVID-19 restrictions lifted, we were able to resume events with the incredible support of the San Diego community.
2024
Our meal service program continues to expand, offering strength to weary families through a hot meal. Over 258,000 meals were served in 2024, thanks to volunteer groups and community partners donating their food and time.
2025
Launched our Imagine the Moment Campaign for our San Diego Ronald McDonald House
Through the generosity of the San Diego community, we were able to add 28 rooms to our existing House – increasing capacity by 50%!
Introduction of a Family Support Services Program Led by a Director of Social Work (LCSW), this program will ensure around-the-clock support for resident guest families. Family Support Services will serve parents and caregivers, siblings and outpatient children, and staff that engage with guests.
1980-2000
San Diego’s Original Ronald McDonald House opens with room for eight families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. A resident manager lives on site. A 1989 addition makes room for four more families. The Joan Kroc Endowment is established. Community need continues to grow, and we look for ways to expand near our main hospital partners.
2006
New “real estate” With plans by Joseph Wong Design Associates, we gain approval to build a 65,000 sq. ft. House in an unusual spot: the top floor of a parking structure under construction by Rady Children’s Hospital. Local McDonald’s Owners, our founding mission partners, pledge $2 million for construction.
2009
New House Openswith Day Services, expanding our reach Silver LEED certified House has 47 guest suites, rooftop courtyards, and a Family Care Center to aid thousands of families per year beyond our resident families.
2010
New Ways to Support Families: Our School Away from School opens so children staying at the House can attend school onsite with the San Diego Unified School District.
New Annual Events fund expanded family care. Prominent events include Red Shoe Day, originally supported by Wells Fargo, Poker Run by PJ and Debbie Byrne, Cake Show by the San Diego Cake Club,
Tables for Tots by GM Business Interiors, Dinner with Friends by Carlos Sanguinetti and Matt Teeter, and the ROMP gala created by Mary Drake.
Meal Service greatly expands to reach more families, serving 50,000+ free meals in its first year with inkind donations and volunteer support. It goes on to become a model for Ronald McDonald Houses worldwide.
2011
Our Meal Program Shines Meal Program continues to grow, serving over 100,000 meals to families during their child’s hospitalization. Donors include the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation, Bank of America Foundation, the Farrell Family Foundation, and SDG&E as well as community groups and local retailers.
2012
A $3.5 Million Gift from the Joseph Clayes III Charitable Trust creates the Joseph Clayes III Endowment Fund at the House.
2013
Day of Joy Created Day of Joy/Día de Alegría reception starts, bringing together leading Latinas y Amigas in support of family care.
2014
ROMP gala hits a high note with Stephen Tyler as headliner, thanks to Chair Jennifer Gramins. San Diego Zoo Kids TV Ours is the first Ronald McDonald House worldwide to bring zoo programming to children and families 24 hours a day, as made possible by philanthropist
2016
Guest Suites Renovated After seven years at full occupancy, all 47 guest suites undergo “rejuvenation” to stay in top condition for family care. Funded by donors including the French Fund, the S. Mark Taper Foundation, and more.
2017
North House Grand Reopening Original House is renovated and reopened for use by families once again. Supporting donors include the David C. Copley Foundation, Price Philanthropies, and the Zable Foundation.
2017-2018
Improvements for Families include the San Diego Padres & Fowler Family Playroom, the Filkey & Associates Restorative Spa Showers, and the Salka Family Wellness Center. 1,000,000 Meals Served to families since our 2009 expansion. Leading donors support renovations for the next million meals, including the JMS Fund, Letitia Swortwood Wheat, and the Caster Family.
2019
Main House Transformation The heart of our House is renovated from reception to commercial and family kitchens, with the Joseph Clayes III Great Room at the center. A new $500,000 Joseph Clayes III Meal Program Endowment helps support ongoing nutrition for families near the hospital. Many Hearts Legacy Society Begins, celebrating those who are committed to ensuring care for future generations through their estates.
2020
During COVID-19, we continued to serve families with the most critically ill children. Gifts to our Emergency Family Care Fund were matched with over $300,000 in gifts from longtime friends including Nancy Stanley and Family, the Miyahira Families and HME, and anonymous supporters.
2021
Thanks to the incredible support of Vertex employees and the Vertex Foundation, we completed a demolition and remodel of our Guest Services Office, turning it into a welcoming space where families could check-in to the House in privacy. We celebrated this milestone accomplishment with a virtual ribbon cutting and unveiling ceremony with Mayor Todd Gloria, viewed by Vertex employees around the world.
2022
After COVID-19 restrictions lifted, we were able to resume events with the incredible support of the San Diego community.
2024
Our meal service program continues to expand, offering strength to weary families through a hot meal. Over 258,000 meals were served in 2024, thanks to volunteer groups and community partners donating their food and time.
2025
Launched our Imagine the Moment Campaign for our San Diego Ronald McDonald House
Through the generosity of the San Diego community, we were able to add 28 rooms to our existing House – increasing capacity by 50%!
Introduction of a Family Support Services Program Led by a Director of Social Work (LCSW), this program will ensure around-the-clock support for resident guest families. Family Support Services will serve parents and caregivers, siblings and outpatient children, and staff that engage with guests.Our meal service program continues to expand, offering strength to weary families through a hot meal. Over 258,000 meals were served in 2024, thanks to volunteer groups and community partners donating their food and time.
